CANDY BOX: An Open Letter to Neal Stephenson

To Neal Stephenson, author of Seveneves

Spoiler Warning: Assorted plot points of Seveneves

An artist's interpretation of the character Tekla

I want to start by saying that I loved the first two parts of your book (as well as the elegant, fitting palindrome as the title).  The characters are realistic and written in such a way that I was visibly distressed when they died.  The story is scientifically plausible, yet rivetingly unique.  By the last page, you have presented an honest but refreshingly patriotic, optimistic view of humanity and our treatment of one another.  As a cherry on top, the ending is the perfect, 600 page prologue for Veronica Roth’s “Divergent.”

An artist's interpretation of the Cloud Ark

Seriously.  The seven remaining humans decide that they will each modify one trait in their descendants’ personalities.  Furthermore, the Teklans value strength (and Dauntless, bravery), the Camites value compassion (and Amity, peace), and the Ivyns value intelligence (and Erudite, the same).  I would love it if Roth changed some details and announced that Seveneves was her book’s prequel.

All of this, and so much more, is why I have so much trouble understanding the rationale behind Part Three.

You skipped five thousand years to pick up the story with an entirely unrecognizable setting and cast of characters, losing me at the two first words: “Kath Two.”  Gone was the suspense of who would die or what new obstacle would appear each time I turned the page.  I stopped being excited to see how the characters (and you) would find a way out of each situation.

An artist's interpretation of the character Kath Two

In the Habitat Ring, there isn’t a sense of real conflict, despite the cold war between Red and Blue, because everyone is safe.  And even among all of the new technology and culture, I found the idea of the seven separate races to be flat and unrealistic, and I reached a point where I was skipping chapters at a time in an effort to reach the reveal that Kath Two’s explorations were leading up to without the other details bogging me down.  That reveal, when it was finally unveiled, was about as exciting as opening an oven to find the exact item that you placed in there.  At the very first mention of another human, I had already realized that Dinah’s father and Ivy’s fiance had succeeded in their respective survival plans.

Ultimately, you took a bold risk by picking up the story after such a substantial time skip, and I greatly respect that.  However, it didn’t work in your favor, and it’s difficult for me to tell others “You HAVE to read Seveneves-- just stop after Part Two.”  Although it would have been rough being left with the suspense of humanity’s fate if you had ended Seveneves after Part Two, your resolution visibly lacked what grounded the rest of the book.

Then again, maybe that’s my fault for not being able to embrace concepts when they are entirely unfamiliar.

Sincerely,

Jonah